The Mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

The Mediocre teacher tells.  The good teacher explains.  The superior teacher demonstrates.  The great teacher inspires.
- William Arthur Ward

We all should be teachers in everything we do.  Whether it be to our kids, to the new guy or girl at the office, to the next door neighbor, or even the stranger on the street; we all should try to teach something to others. 

But teaching is more than just "telling", or even more than "explaining", and even more than "demonstrating"; true teaching is inspiring someone to learn.  True teaching can change behavior in wayward individuals; it can make someone's day a little brighter; it can even make someone's life better.

Imagine seeing the cranky person today (we all know who they are).  Instead of avoiding that person because they bring you down, imagine when you meet them, giving them a smile and a true compliment.  Maybe, just maybe, it will brighten their day and they in turn will not be so cranky - that is true teaching - inspiring!

Three Simple Rules in Life

Today's saying caught my eye as it is so simplistic.  Due to its simplistic nature, I am not going to comment any further but, instead, let you think about it.  BUT, after you read it and think about it - GO DO IT!

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
-  Winston S. Churchill

Oh what a quote we have today!  Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of England during World War II.  Credited with saving the United Kingdom from occupation by the Nazi's.  A man of great wisdom and even greater leadership.  When you think about the quote, it should resonate within you that you must keep on, keeping on!

Success is not final.  I think of one of the greatest (and dumbest) movies I ever saw, Napoleon Dynamite.  I remember the guy, I think it was his uncle, who was a high school football quarterback star.  There is a scene where he is reminiscing about throwing a game winning touchdown and he is explaining how the crowd was going wild and how he threw the ball to the receiver; you remember the scene, he acts out the throw and hits the kid in the side of the head while riding his bike.  Anyway, if you remember, this football star lives in a van down by the river and spends all day reminiscing about his success as a quarterback, achieving nothing in his present life.  Success is not final!  Each of us have achieved some success in our life, business, and family.  That success is temporary and we must start working toward the next success. 

Failure is not fatal.  This is the part of the quote that is most interesting.  Failure in Winston Churchill's day, against the Nazi's, very well could have been fatal.  Anyway, in our life, failure is rarely final.  Failure may hurt, it may cost you money, it may even knock you down for a bit, but it is not fatal.  You can recover and oftentimes arise to even greater success.  In this area I am reminded of a three minute video titled "Finish Strong" available to watch for free at the link provided below.  This video goes into the lives of some extraordinary people who failed and arose to success out of the failure.  I will not divulge the names of the individuals as I encourage you to take three minutes and watch the video (the last one I remember watching on television as it happened)!

Now we come to the last part of the quote, it is the courage to continue that counts.  This is what the video "Finish Strong" resonates in the lives of each of the individuals portrayed.  When you experience failure, pick yourself up and start again!

http://play.simpletruths.com/movie/finish-strong/

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

  “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

- President Theodore Roosevelt

26th President of the United States of America
Governor of the State of New York
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Rough Rider - San Juan Hill
City of New York Police Commissioner
Assistant United States Navy Secretary


This quote from Theodore Roosevelt is quite amazing when you look at what he accomplished during his life.  I listed several things he is known for; I did not list that he lost both his mother and wife on the same day (February 14, 1884), nor that he lost a son in Germany during World War I, nor that during his second bid for Presidency (which he lost to Woodrow Wilson) there was an assassination attempt on his life in which he was shot in the chest.  Even through all of these horrible life events, he achieved the goals I listed above, as well as many other achievements.

Now that you know a little more about the man who said, "do what you can, with what you have, where you are", I hope it resonates in you that your life does not need to be perfect, or even good, to be successful! 

The first part of this quote says "Do what you can".  That is not hard - don't do any more than you can, but don't do any less either.  Simply do what you can do!

"With what you have"; don't worry about not having abilities others have.  Don't worry about not being born with a "silver spoon in your mouth".  Just simply use what you have.  Every one of us are unique, God gave each and every one of us individual abilities, talents, and skills.  Use what you have!

"Where you are"; every one of us is in a different place (physically, mentally, emotionally, financially).  Bloom where you are!  Even if the grass looks greener in someone else's circumstances and you wish you were in their situation, remember Erma Bombeck wrote a book several years ago titled "The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank".  That other person's life may look better than yours, their situation may appear more desirable, they may even be more successful than you and making far more money than you do; but it may all be (you know what) just under the surface.

Today's spiritual application is to look at some of the men and women of the Bible who accomplished great things doing what they can (with God's help - who, by the way, says that you can do "ALL THINGS" through Christ), with what they had, where they were.

Moses - born into slavery, raised by royalty, fled for his life after murdering a man, lives on the backside of the desert for 40 years, who at the age of 80 confronted the most powerful man on the planet of their time and lead out an entire nation from slavery.

David - a runty shepherd boy who, in the presence of the warriors of his country who were quivering in their boots, took on a giant of a man and slew him with a child's toy and a smooth stone.

How about the Apostles - 11 men who watched as their leader was crucified, hidden away in a room because they knew they would be next, who litterally turned the world upside down before they died.

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.
- Zig Ziglar

This quote is probably one of my all time favorites; in fact, it is the quote that got me interested in quotes.

A while back I heard a motivational speaker named Mark Leader speak at a real estate meeting I was at.  In reality, he did not say anything I had not heard before, he just said it a little different.  I thoroughly enjoyed his message and plan on attending a 3-day training seminar he is hosting in the future.

I asked several older agents what they thought; most said something like "He wasn't like all the other 'dog and pony' shows I've seen".  I realize there are a lot of motivational speakers, books, websites, blogs (this one included) and what not that one can have access to.  And it might even be overwhelming at times.  But, like Zig said here, it doesn't last forever.  In my case with Mark Leader, he said a couple things I already knew, but he "reminded" of it; that helped me.  You see, when I went through the previous training and was motivated, it didn't last. I needed it again. 

Zig compares it to bathing.  I worked 20-years in a jail, I dealt with people who did not take regular baths / showers.  Oh they may have taken a bath last week, but, TRUST ME, it didn't last, they needed another one! 

I write this daily quote blog for this exact reason.  To give everyone a little shot in the arm every day!

"Man Cannot Discover New Oceans Unless He Has the Courage to Lose Sight of the Shore."

"Man Cannot Discover New Oceans Unless He Has the Courage to Lose Sight of the Shore."
-Andre Gide

By staying close to the shore, the safety area per se, you will never attain a lofty goal.  Set a goal, a high goal, and go after it!  Don't stay in the "safe area", get out of your "comfort zone" and strive for something worth attaining!  Go discover that "new ocean".

Spiritually speaking, the Word of God tells us in Hebrews 10 that we are to "live by faith".  Most of us live by sight instead.  I am a tithing individual; I give at least 10% of our gross income to my church and missions projects throughout the United States and the world.  Traditionally, I would look at what I made in any given week, figure 10%, round up, and tithe.  On the outside there is nothing wrong with that.  In fact, if you tithe like that, GOOD JOB!  However, recently I was convicted about living by faith and not by sight.  You see, when I tithe on what I made, that is sight - I can see what I made and am tithing on that sight.  Recently I started tithing by faith.  I have an annual income I want to make this year.  I tithe on that number; strictly by faith that God will open doors for me to achieve that number.  That is loosing sight of the shore and discovering new oceans!